Introduction
~ A newsletter intended to provide information about one of Asia's best destinations ~
Welcome to Hein Si International Travels & Tours !
Myanmar: With a population of more than 48 million, some 130 distinct ethnic groups, varied and diverse physical beauty, and a land mass greater than that of England and France combined, this devoutly Buddhist and still largely undeveloped country is surely one of the last and best kept travel secrets in the world. When visitors arrive at Yangon Airport and turn their watches back 30 minutes, they might as well turn back 30 or 40 years. Because a visit to Myanmar is like stepping back in time, back to a place where you can experience Asian culture the way it used to be - and the way is still is in Myanmar.
What makes a tour in Myanmar so special?
Undoubtedly it is a boom in hotel construction left Myanmar with many new four star hotels. There is also a wide range of clean, comfortable, and modern accommodations in lesser categories. And domestic air connections are first rate as well with Air Mandalay and Yangon Airways flying modern ATR-72 and ATR-42 aircraft.
Is Myanmar a safe destination?
The truth is the crime rate in Myanmar is extremely low and virtually none is directed at foreigners. In fact, for tourists it is one of the safest countries in the world to travel in.
What Hein Si International Travels & Tours can offer you?
Quality: Hein Si's smooth and efficient staff provide matchless quality and reliability.
Flexibility: We are specialists at customizing tours to fit virtually and need. Please don't hesitate to ask us for a quote. Among the many we can offer, separately or in combination are:
Classic tours
Soft Adventure
Cultural
Incentive
Honeymoon packages
Golf
Fast response: a hallmark of Hein Si International Travels & Tours is our quick turn around time on quotes - often the same day.
Great itineraries: Tours that run smoothly put a smile on your client's face. And while we may not always be the first to try a new route, we will be there when it's safe, and reliable.
New Destination
INDAIN, to reach there, you'll travel by long tailed boat for about 25 minutes up a creek that feeds into famous Inle Lake. There are several small wooden 'dams' you must pass through on the way. These dams slow the flow of water to Inle Lake to keep water level up in the creek. The creek flows through an opening in the middle of the dam, which is just big enough for the long tailed boat to pass through. After docking you'll pass through two rows of white columns circa 17th century passing down a walkway about ˝ mile in length. At the end of this walkway you come to a temple, which is surrounded by many Shan style pagodas: for those who wish to see archaeology in its more natural state.
SOUTHERN CHIN STATE
Although it's possible to visit the northern part of the Chin State by road from Kalewa in the Sagaing Division, the true heart of traditional Chin cultural is found in the south. Paletwa, just over the state line from the Rakhine State, can be reached via boat along the Kaladan River from Sittwe or Kyauktaw. A new road between Mahamuni and Paletwa will also allow vehicle travel direct from Mrauk U.
In the Chin Hills some women still tattoo their faces, though it's a custom that's fading fast. At higher elevations they wear thick, striped cotton blankets draped over the body and ornaments of copper and bronze. Among the Khamui, a sub-tribe that inhabits the lower elevations of southern Chin State, unmarried women wear short skirts and little else. Chin men tend to wear simple Western-style dress such as shirts and trousers.
While the Chin State is currently off limits to foreigners, a source at the Ministry of Hotels & Tourism told us it would soon be open to visitors with travel permits and guides.
Our Famous Destinations
YANGON
The capital city, is the gateway to Myanmar. Evergreen and cool with lush tropical trees, shady parks and beautiful lakes. Yangon has earned the name of "the Garden City of the East." Relatively simple city without skyscrapers, neon-lit clamour and the pace of modern life, Yangon is attractive in its own special way. Present day, Yangon covers about 350 aq-km and has a population of over 5 million. Towering almost 100 meters above the green city-scope of Yangon, the luminous Shwedagon Pagoda is the landmark visible from miles around. One of the wonders of the world, the Shwedagon is believed to have been built more than 2500 years ago. It is the essence of Myanmar and a place that never fails to enchant.
MANDALAY
Also known as the Golden City and the capital of Upper Myanmar. It was founded in 1857 by King Mindon. The palace formed a perfect square, with the outer wall facing the four cardinal directions and the 12 gates thereon named after the sign of the zodiac. The whole magnificent palace complex was destroyed by fire during the Second World War.
However, the finely built palace walls, the city gates with their crowning wooden pavilions, Nan-myint-saung(watch-tower) & the surrounding moat still present an impressive scene of the Golden Palace City, Mandalay.
HEHO
Opens the door to the lush Shan Mountains and the serene Inle Lake - home of the unique leg-rowing Intha fishermen. Each year in October or November, a water-borne procession of royal barges conveys 5 figurines of Buddha from the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda to the various villages around the lake - a spectacular festival of traditional music and dances.
The start of each new day is marked by a morning market which makes its round of the various towns in a 5-day cycle. The market in Kalaw is notable for the vibrant colours of the many hill tribes that peddle their wares, while many wooden boats bearing farm produce ply the canals at the floating market at
Ywama.A 2-hour drive from Heho transports one to the Pindaya Caves - where thousands of Buddha images have been deposited by devotees throughout history. It is rumoured that one of the caves lead all the way to Bagan…
THANDWE
Is the gateway to the whites and beaches of Ngapali fronting the Bay of Bengal. Lined by swaying palms and fishing villages, the best time to travel to Ngapali Beach is between October and May.
KYAIK-HTEE-YOE (GOLDEN BALANCING ROCK)
I believe that some of you are headed for upcountry after a few days' stay here in Yangon, to visit well-known places like Mandalay, Bagan and Inlay. You'll find at those places what you have come here to find - the heritage of an ancient and exotic civilization which has flourished since the eleventh century A.D. But culture may not be everybody's cup of tea and I suspect that some of you are simply interested in seeing and hearing alien sights and sounds, visiting scenic spots, shopping for foreign souvenirs and so on.
We have one off-beat and highly satisfying trips to suggest for such people, which is Kyaik-Htee-Yoe Pagoda. Kyaik-Htee-Yoe is probably the second most famous and revered pagoda in Myanmar with the exception of the great Shwedagon, of course.
What makes the pagoda especially marvelous is its precarious position: it stands on a boulder that seems to be defying the force of gravity as it hangs from the spur of a cliff. If you give the boulder a push, it shakes!
The pagoda is less than 4 hours drive from Yangon - just 104 miles from the city to the town of Kyaikto, which in turn is about midway between Bago and Thaton.
Tips for the visitor
Footwear - since shoes and socks must be removed when visiting religious sites, easy removable footwear is convenient.
Modest clothes - when visiting temples and pagodas, modest clothing is appropriate, no shorts or revealing clothing. Please bring a light sweater for cold nights when visiting the Shan Plateau mountains, especially in the peak season of October - February.
Malaria- the main areas of Yangon, Inle Lake, Bagan, and Mandalay are generally considered free of Malaria but travelers may still which to consult their personal Physician.
MasterCard - MasterCard is not accepted because they have no 'server' office in Myanmar. Other major credit cards and travelers checks are accepted at MFTB and MICB banks.
Cameras - Still and video cameras are allowed in the country.
Mobile phones - it is not permitted to bring in mobile phones (no satellite link so they don't work here anyway). If upon arrival they note you have a mobile phone they normally hold it at customs until your departure at which time you can retrieve it.
Rules of the Road for Pedestrians - Visitors should take care when crossing busy city streets. Drivers here are used to pedestrians yielding to the car and not the opposite as westerners are used to.
